Fort Worth may be the only place you can watch an actual cattle drive twice daily.
It holds fast to its history as a cattle town, but it also embraces the modern world.
Kids might enjoy seeing the cattle drives, and there are a lot of other activities for children in the city.
Water parks and other outdoor activities are very popular here, and there are also a lot of cool museums with a lot of interactive materials kids will enjoy.
Here are just a few of the many things you can do with your kids in Fort Worth.
Things to Do in Fort Worth With Kids
Fort Worth Zoo
The Fort Worth Zoo has about 7,000 animals over its 64-acre facility.
It has been operating since 1909 when it started with just a few animals.
There are special exhibits at various times, such as Big Cats, Living Art, Asian Falls, Primates World, and a lot more.
There is an indoor exhibit of penguins of different kinds.
The zoo has a section on the African Savanna, the Australian Outback, and wildlife in Texas.
Kids will enjoy seeing the animals, but there are also fun educational programs throughout the day.
NRH20 Family Water Park
This park is a 17-acre facility with 23 attractions that will keep kids busy all day.
The park is in the North Richland Hills area of Fort Worth.
There is a Tadpole Swimming Hole for small children.
There are pools for bigger kids as well.
The park has body slides, a lazy river, a wading pool, and many more rides that will thrill kids of all ages.
The Green Extreme is a major attraction with a 1,100 feet uphill water roller coaster.
Admission is just $15, which is low for a water park.
Play Street Museum
Play Street Museum is a children’s museum for kids aged eight and under.
There are activities for children that are fun and educational.
There is a town square where there are interactive exhibits built around life in the city.
Parents may accompany their children and participate as well.
Kids can play doctor, be a veterinarian, be a firefighter, or run a grocery store.
There are also interactive games for toddlers.
The museum has weekly themes and special events.
There are timed sessions and reservations are recommended.
Older kids and parents can play along with the young kids.
The Acton Nature Center
This nature center is a great place to take kids and let them enjoy nature.
The even better thing is, it is free and open every day.
There are trails around the center where there is a pond.
There is a ravine where there are labeled trees to explore.
You may enjoy the area on your own at any time.
Even so, there are special programs that are fun for the whole family.
There is a butterfly count, a snake watch, a bird count, and a star watch party, to name just a few of the special events you can enjoy.
Altitude Trampoline Park
If you like to jump, you will love the Altitude Trampoline Park in north Fort Worth.
It is a 35,000-square-foot facility with dozens of trampolines.
There are sports competitions, fitness programs, and competitive jumping.
You can also jump to your heart’s content on one of the many trampolines at this park.
You may get a 90-minute, or two-hour pass that allows you to use all the equipment.
You may also play dodgeball and basketball on the trampolines, which is a great adventure.
There is also a court with trampolines for little kids, allowing bigger kids to use the main court.
Forth Worth Botanical Garden
You may think of a botanical garden as a place for adults with an interest in plants.
That is true, but the Fort Worth Botanical Garden has programs reaching out to kids to inspire an interest in nature and plants particularly.
There are early childhood programs and summer camps for kids between the ages of four and 13.
Children five and under are admitted free, ages six to 16 are $6 and adult tickets are $12.
The garden is in the cultural district, a short distance from downtown.
It has 120 acres of garden views, horticultural displays, and exhibits.
Kids will enjoy walking around and seeing the plants, and the special programs designed for younger people.
Fort Worth Museum of Science and History
The museum offers science programs, as well as history.
Many exhibits are interactive, and there are exhibits designed for children as well.
There are traveling and permanent exhibits.
Inside is a children’s museum as well that has lots of interactive activities.
There is an area where kids can doodle, invent, design, and explore the scientific world.
It is a fun place where their imagination can run wild, and it is interesting enough to keep adults entertained as well.
The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, half a day on Sunday, and is closed on Mondays.
Epic Waters Indoor Waterpark
The Epic Waters Indoor Waterpark is open all year long in Fort Worth.
It has 80,000 square feet. It has 12 water slides, the longest indoor river in Texas, wave pools, a children’s play area, and more water-related rides to enjoy.
The park has an aquatic fort, a surfing simulator, and an arcade.
Your family can rent a private cabana that gives you a place to rest between doing all the activities in the park.
Kids will also love the Texas Twister, which is a long and winding tube that you can ride through.
While it is an indoor facility, it also has an outdoor wave pool.
Cattle Pen Maze
Fort Worth was known for its stockyards full of cattle.
That spirit continues with the Cattle Pen Maze in the stockyard region of the city.
The maze is made up of wooden panels that are changed frequently.
If you go a few days later the maze will have changed.
You may compete against the clock or each other, or just figure it out at your own pace.
You can prepare for the fun by looking it over from an observation deck before you start.
Trinity Trails
The trinity trails are a 70-mile-long network of trails along the Trinity River that goes through the city.
You can explore parts of the city by using these trails, as well as using them for hiking, biking, running, or horseback riding.
The trails connect 31 neighborhoods and 21 parks in the city.
The trails are always open and free to use.
You may also enjoy kayaking, urban fishing, and geocaching.
The city provides an interactive map you can download to help find your way around the trails.
Forest Park Miniature Railroad
This railroad has been in operation since 1959 and offers a five-mile trip around Trinity Park and the zoo area.
The train is open throughout the year, but times change with the season and weather.
The train goes over six bridges over the Trinity River.
The train is a loop but there are two depots along the way that can be explored.
A ride on the train is $6 or $7 for all ages.
Real cattle drives
Twice a day, every day weather permitting, there is a cattle drive in the stockyard section of Fort Worth.
Drovers on horseback drive the longhorns down the street to holding pens.
The best viewing spot is in front of the Livestock Exchange Building, on Exchange Street in the stockyards.
Drovers are available for photos and to answer questions after the cattle drives.
Fort Worth Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Fort Worth Safety Review
Safety Index:
- OVERALL RISK: LOW
- TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
- PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM
- NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM
- MUGGING RISK: MEDIUM
- TERRORISM RISK: MEDIUM
- SCAMS RISK: LOW
- WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
Frequently Asked Questions
How is Forth Worth different from Dallas?
The two cities are beside each other and in the same metropolitan area, yet they are very different.
Fort Worth has a more small-town feel, is more laid back, and more like the rest of Texas.
It was started as a cowtown and that has never really changed.
Dallas is a more urban modern city.
You still might not notice going from one to the other while on the freeway.
What is the best way to get around Fort Worth?
There is a public bus system called the T, that goes from the Zoo to the Stockyard district and makes a lot of stops through the town along the way.
Buses are scheduled every 20 minutes, so you won’t ever have long to wait.
There is also a trolley in the downtown.
Still, both Fort Worth and Dallas were built on the idea of people using cars for transportation.
How many water parks are there in Fort Worth?
There are about 17 water parks in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, and many of them are in Fort Worth.
The area gets very hot in summer and does not get all that cold during the winter.
Having a place to enjoy the water and cool off is very popular in this area because of the heat.
Some of the oldest and biggest parks in Texas are in Fort Worth.
When is the best time to visit Fort Worth?
The best time to visit is in the spring or in the fall.
Summers are very hot and attractions are crowded.
March to May or September to November are the most pleasant times of the year and are not as busy as the summer.
December to February is very tolerable from a weather standpoint and is the cheapest time of year in Fort Worth.
Is Fort Worth a family-friendly town?
Fort Worth has something for everyone and for all ages.
There are fun activities outdoors throughout the year.
Museums and other attractions that appeal to adults normally have a good section for children to enjoy.
There are several water parks, and museums, which cater to kids of all ages.
The many outdoor activities that are available will also keep kids busy through the summer months.
You won’t have trouble finding plenty to do in Fort Worth for the whole family.
The city of Fort Worth offers a unique blend of history and modern activities, making it a great destination for families with children.